Application of finite element methods in relativistic mean-field theory: spherical nucleus Original Research Article

A·C++ code is used to calculate ground state properties of spherical nuclei. The nuclear system is described in the framework of relativistic mean field theory: nucleons are coupled to exchange mesons and photon through an effective Lagrangian. Finite element methods are used in the self-consistent solutionvof the coupled system of partial differential equations for the nucleons and for the meson fields. Using a formulation based on weighted residuals, the coupled system of Dirac and Klein-Gordon equations is transformed into a generalized algebraic eigenvalue problem, and systems of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations, respectively.